Okeanos Explorer Expeditions to PMNM€¦ · Okeanos Explorer Expeditions to PMNM . Daniel Wagner, Ph.D. NWHI RAC Meeting. May 12, 2016

Okeanos Explorer Expeditions to PMNM

Daniel Wagner, Ph.D. NWHI RAC Meeting

May 12, 2016

PMNM by Depth

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20%

40%

60%

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<100 m 100-2000 m > 2000 m

85%

13% 2%

PMNM by Depth

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20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

<100 m 100-2000 m > 2000 m

85%

13% 2%

PMNM by Depth

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20%

40%

60%

80%

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<100 m 100-2000 m > 2000 m

85%

13% 2%

2 Expeditions - 2015: 24 days (Honolulu – Honolulu) - 2016: 23 days (Honolulu – Kwajalein)

CAPSTONE: 2015-2017

High-Density Biological Communities

Vulnerable Communities

Prime Crust Zone

High-Density Biological Communities

Steep Ridge Topography

ROV Dive Locations (2015 & 2016)

ROV Dive Locations (2015 & 2016)

- 26 ROV dives - 700 – 4800 m - 137 hours off bottom time (~6 days) - >17 km surveyed - 49 biological samples - 45 geological samples

High-Density Communities Discovered

High-density biological community

• Largest known in Central Pacific (>10 miles; 1800-2200 m) • Deepest known in the World (4000 m)

Specimen Collections

Biological specimens (N=49) Geological specimens (N=45)

Imaged animals

Imaged animals

- 447 different animals - ~25% are new to region - Largest sponge in the world

Mapping

Mapping

- ~60,000 km2 (>39,000 in PMNM)

- 7 newly mapped seamounts (3 inside PMNM)

- 6 unnamed seamounts

Newly mapped seamounts

Newly mapped seamounts

Newly mapped seamounts

Newly mapped seamounts

Newly mapped seamounts

~13,800 feet

Newly mapped seamounts

~4,600 feet

Science Highlights - 26 ROV dives (700-4800 m+, deepest dives in PMNM) - >17 km of deep-sea seafloor surveyed during 137 hours - Discovered 10 new high-density communities - Extended range of 3 previously known high-density communities - Surveyed high-density communities include deepest and largest in the world - Imaged 447 different animals (~25% new to region) - Mapped over 60,000 km2 of seafloor (2/3 inside PMNM) - Mapped 6 seamounts for the first time (3 inside PMNM); these do not yet have names - One peer-reviewed article summarizing results published; another article in review - Published online deep-sea animal identification guide - First-ever specimen collections by Okeanos Explorer

- Collected 49 biological samples (all new species or new records) - Collected 45 geological samples

- Over 40 shore-based scientists participated regularly - All data is publicly available

Media coverage

Outreach and Education Highlights - Over 800 media stories published - Live video feeds received over 550,000 views - Live video feeds streamed at Waikiki Aquarium, Mokupapapa Discovery Center, Maui

Ocean Center and Aquarium of the Pacific - Two new exploration command centers brought online (UH, IRC) - 2015 expedition featured as cover story of Honolulu Advertiser - 2016 expedition featured on Discovery Channel’s show Daily Planet (>2 million viewers)

- Produced 40 highlight clips for outreach (all available online)

Mahalo! • Science Co-Leads: Chris Kelley & Jonathan Tree

• Expedition Coordinators: Brian Kennedy & Kelley Elliott

• ROV team: Karl McLetchie, Bobby Mohr, Jim Newman, Chris Ritter, Jeff Lanning, Joshua Carlson,

Dan Rogers, Sean Kennison, Levi Unema and Andy Lister • Video engineers: Roland Brien, Tara Smithee, Arthur Howard and Eddie McNicol • Mapping team: Mashkoor Malik, Jason Meyer and Bill Potts • Data and sample managers: Andy O’Brien and Katherine Woodard • Okeanos Explorer crew: Mark Wetzler, James Brinkley, Randy Collins, Fiona Matheson, Bryan

Brasher, Bryan Prestone, Vincent Palazzolo, Jerrod Hazendorf, Rick Gabona, Kevin Lackey, Abraham McDowell, Dave Blessing, Mike Sapien, Rainier Capati, Kyle Fredericks, Nicky Applewhite, Will Johnson, Pedro Lebron, Mike Collins, Keith Speights, William Sparks

• Shore-based operation team: Nick Pawlenko, Casey Kantwell, Catalina Martinez, Emily Crum and

Katie Wagner • Shore-based scientists: Scott France, Bruce Mundy, Mary Wicksten, Andrea Quatrini, Tina

Molodtsova, Michael Vecchione, Amy Baco-Taylor, Asako Matsumoto, Les Watling, Brian Boston, Patricia Fryer, Brendan Roark, Santiago Herrera, Randy Kosaki, Allen Andrews, Frank Parrish, Michael Parke, Thomas Hourigan, Deborah Glickson, Michael Garcia, Dave Jourdan, King Spencer, Ken Sulak, Randy Singer, Jeff Drazen, Diva Amon, Nicole Morgan, Lindsay Dhugal, Rich Mooi, Erik Cordes, Toni Parras, Samantha Brooke, Heidi Hirsh, Smith Sallie, Daniel Warren and Kristen Mello

Daniel.Wagner@noaa.gov